Teen Shoots 4 Family Members at Georgia Barbecue, Killing Two Young Brothers

An 18-year-old Georgia man faces murder charges after fatally shooting two brothers, ages 11 and 12, at a family barbecue following a dispute over a football game.

Brothers, 11 and 12, Killed at DeKalb County Barbecue After Football Dispute

An 18-year-old Georgia man has been charged with murder after police say he opened fire on four family members at a backyard barbecue, killing two young brothers, Law & Crime reports.

Julian Ellis is being held without bond at the DeKalb County Jail, facing two counts of felony murder and four counts of aggravated assault with a weapon. Authorities say the shooting occurred on a Sunday at a residence in DeKalb County; Ellis was arrested two days later, on Tuesday.

The victims killed in the attack were 11-year-old Jamarion Rolle and 12-year-old Ja'khi Clark, who were brothers. A 17-year-old girl — described by the boys' mother as her niece and reportedly pregnant — and a 37-year-old woman were also struck by gunfire and taken to the hospital.

The boys' mother, Janae Rolle, spoke to Atlanta ABC affiliate WSB and described the chain of events that led to the shooting. The conflict began on Sept. 17, during a football game involving children from the neighborhood. Rolle did not detail the nature of the dispute, but said that days later the family organized a barbecue at their home.

Relatives of the children who had been involved in the earlier altercation arrived at the gathering. A second confrontation broke out outside the home and escalated. Rolle told WSB she heard gunfire and rushed outside to find both of her sons wounded. Jamarion was pronounced dead at the scene; Ja'khi died later at the hospital.

Rolle told WSB that after the shooting, the suspects fled the scene, but that she was able to hand over video footage to investigators. Ellis is the only person arrested so far in connection with the attack.

According to WAGA, the Atlanta-based Fox affiliate, Ellis is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 24. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched in the boys' names to cover funeral expenses.

Source: Law & Crime